I also read PPAs don't work with debian. When I tried straight debian jessie. PPA's did actually work(Grub customizer, Seamonkey, Firefox). The main issue I had with debian jessie it was a real pain in the neck to configure. I hope it easier to install stuff using Mint Mate debian

Right now, I am using Lubuntu 14.04.3 lts with Xfce desktop because 15.10 Wily (Most flavors) wouldn't keep the screen resolution set. That is why I was thinking of using Mint Mate debian then adding the Xfce4 destkop.

LMDE, The developers might want to fix the apt-cache for the Linux Mint Debian version. When I booted up USB live LMDE & did apt-cache search xfce4 , xfce4 did show up as an installable item. I take it once LMDE is installed. You could do sudo apt-get install xfce4 , it would install but you wouldn't be able to login to xfce4?

LMDE, The developers might want to fix the apt-cache for the Linux Mint Debian version. When I booted up USB live LMDE & did apt-cache search xfce4 , xfce4 did show up as an installable item. I take it once LMDE is installed. You could do sudo apt-get install xfce4 , it would install but you wouldn't be able to login to xfce4?

Hi groze. Actually, you can install xfce4 in LMDE. The difference is that it'll be the Debian package for xfce4, not the Mint package. What I mean is that both Mint and Debian configure their xfce4 desktops to look a certain way by default, and the Mint xfce4 desktop looks different than that Debian xfce4 desktop. For LMDE, the Mint team does not offer a xfce4 package, so if you install xfce4, it'll be the Debian version.
If you installed xfce4, you would be able to log in.

"Once you can accept the universe as matter expanding into nothing that is something, wearing stripes with plaid comes easy."
- Albert Einstein